When tensions escalated last May between Hamas and the IDF, many American Jews began to ask their Israeli counterparts about plans to leave the country. Almost every Israeli looked at them as if they were crazy and told the Americans that they would not be leaving. For Israelis, there is no exit plan to leave Israel; there is no plan B.
Maybe it is time for Diaspora Jewry to start viewing Israel that way as well. There is no plan B for Jewish survival outside Israel in the long term. There are now more Jews within Israel’s borders than outside them and the numbers inside are growing every year as young people return to their homeland by the hundreds. The rising number of hate crimes against Jews around the globe, particularly in the US and the UK, will drive Jewish people’s need for Israel as well.
So what can we do now in the meantime as Diaspora Jews to make sure Israel never needs a plan B? We need to educate people on the importance of Israel, both historically, religiously and politically. We need to gain governmental support from the world’s nations and from bodies such as the UN. Most importantly, we need to fight the battle against Israel that is taking place on social media. We desperately need to educate, empower, and advocate the next generation to fight a fight they are acutely attuned to win. We need New Zionists.
No Plan B
No Plan B
No Plan B
When tensions escalated last May between Hamas and the IDF, many American Jews began to ask their Israeli counterparts about plans to leave the country. Almost every Israeli looked at them as if they were crazy and told the Americans that they would not be leaving. For Israelis, there is no exit plan to leave Israel; there is no plan B.
Maybe it is time for Diaspora Jewry to start viewing Israel that way as well. There is no plan B for Jewish survival outside Israel in the long term. There are now more Jews within Israel’s borders than outside them and the numbers inside are growing every year as young people return to their homeland by the hundreds. The rising number of hate crimes against Jews around the globe, particularly in the US and the UK, will drive Jewish people’s need for Israel as well.
So what can we do now in the meantime as Diaspora Jews to make sure Israel never needs a plan B? We need to educate people on the importance of Israel, both historically, religiously and politically. We need to gain governmental support from the world’s nations and from bodies such as the UN. Most importantly, we need to fight the battle against Israel that is taking place on social media. We desperately need to educate, empower, and advocate the next generation to fight a fight they are acutely attuned to win. We need New Zionists.
By Sadie Hilf